Glistening diyas, sparkling fairy lights, sweets and snacks that glitter the eyes and soul, and joy all around – this is the Diwali festival in India. Popular under the sobriquet ‘festival of lights,’ Diwali in 2023, falls on November 12. Since the festivities also mean the most delicious Diwali Recipes, both sweet and savory, I am sharing a personal favorite collection of 121 Diwali Sweets here. From ladoos and kheers to halwas and more – this list has a choice of mithai (sweet), that everyone can enjoy during the Diwali festive season.
Significance of Diwali
The most common and celebrated story that is associated with Diwali festival is that of Lord Rama returning to Ayodhya along with his wife Sita and younger brother Lakshman after executing Lanka’s demon king Ravana.
To welcome them, Ayodhyavasis (people of Ayodhya) adorned their homes and streets with clay lamps.
Thus, the lit festivities, of which sweets too are an important part, signify that good is always triumphant over evil. Diwali also symbolizes hope over despair, light over darkness and knowledge over ignorance.
This is the reason different types of Diwali Recipes and Diwali Sweets are an absolute must while celebrating the Hindu festival of Diwali.
Table of Contents
- Significance of Diwali
- Diwali Festival – A Sweet Affair
- 121 Diwali Sweets
- Popular Sweets
- Ladoo Recipes
- Halwa Recipes
- Barfi Recipes
- Homemade Sweet Snacks
Diwali festival is usually a 5-day long affair, with each day signifying a particular thing. Here is what each day means:
- First day – Dhanteras or Dhanvantari Triyodashi; it is believed that on this day the God of medicine, God Dhanvantari, emerged out of the ocean and with him, brought the science of Ayurveda for mankind.
- Second day – Naraka Chaturdashi or Choti Diwali; according to legends, on this day Lord Krishna, Satyabhama (Krishna’s wife) and Goddess Kali killed the demon Narakasura. Another reason supporting the theory of victory of good over evil.
- Third day – Lakshmi Puja, Badi Diwali or the actual day; this day is when Goddess Lakshmi is worshipped as it is believed that it is on this day, she descends to Earth to bless everyone with happiness, luck and prosperity.
- Fourth day – Govardhan Puja; it is believed that on this day, the people of Vrindavan were asked by Bhagwan Krishna, to offer their prayers to a hill named Giri Govardhan instead of Lord Indra.
- Fifth day – Bhai Dooj; on this day, the bond between brothers and sisters is celebrated and honored. According to Hindu mythology, Yama, the Lord of Death on visiting his sister Yamuna, gave her a boon. This was whoever visits their sister on this day, shall be freed of all sins and will achieve moksha.
Diwali Festival – A Sweet Affair
Diwali or Deepavali is truly the festival of lights, festivity and celebration. Since no major festival or any other special occasion is complete without sweets, so is the case with Diwali as well.
Also, because the real essence of Diwali festival lies in the victory of good over evil, sweets are a must to commemorate this success.
Thus, an important element in the festivities. Traditionally too in India, sweets are offered to Gods and Goddesses and made with purity and devotion.
I would suggest that you make sweets or mithai at home (just like olden times) rather than buying from the market.
This way, when you will share it with your family, friends and loves ones, the feeling and excitement will just amplify. For this, my curated list of Diwali Sweets will be at your service.
In many parts of India, it is customary to offer or gift sweets to neighbors as well on Diwali festival.
I specially remember those funny instances while I was growing up, when the mithai box which you had given to your neighbor, used to come back home after moving in a circle!
Since it is all about Diwali Recipes during this time of the year, it wouldn’t be possible to eat everything. So, people kept passing the sweet boxes further.
121 Diwali Sweets
While you try the sweets from this special list, check out this compilation of 124 Diwali Snacks as well for your savory cravings during Diwali festival.
For more Indian sweets, this category of Sweets Recipes is where you should head to.
Diwali festival is also the perfect time to begin something new or venture into positive deeds. So, donate your old clothes to the less-privileged or make any other kind of donation to help needy people. And what best way to start something novel than with some lovely recipes for sweets.
Most of the recipes in this 121 Diwali Sweets list are not just easy to make, but also require the least efforts and still are decadent.
Even if you find something lengthy, just follow the recipes to the T, and make things simpler for yourself. Just for your ease of reading, I have divided this post into 7 parts.
Before I sum up, here’s wishing a very Happy and Prosperous Diwali to all our reader friends!
Popular Sweets
Find the most popular Diwali Sweets in this section, from all over India. I have also included some Bengali sweets in this list.
Moderate20 minutes mins
Easy Kaju Katli Recipe (Kaju Barfi)
These Kaju Katli are the way they are actually meant to be – thin, smooth, melt in the mouth slices of cashew goodness. A popular Indian sweet made with cashews, sugar and water.
Moderate30 minutes mins
Easy Besan ke Laddu Recipe
Besan Ladoo or Besan ke Laddu is a popular Indian sweet made during festivals. These are round sweet balls made with gram flour a.k.a besan, powdered sugar and clarified butter (ghee).
Moderate30 minutes mins
Rava Laddu Recipe (Suji Ke Laddu)
An easy peasy method to makeRava Laddu for Diwali or any festival. This Rava Ladooalso known as Suji ke Laddu are sweet balls made with rava(sooji or semolina), coconut, powdered sugar, dry fruits, nuts and ghee.
Moderate45 minutes mins
Perfect Gulab Jamun Recipe
Delicious Gulab Jamun Recipe made with khoya or mawa (milk solids,) paneer and sugar in the traditional way. Gulab Jamun is a popular Indian sweet and this recipe is the classic traditional method of making these treats.
Moderate15 hours hrs 45 minutes mins
Jalebi Recipe | Best Homemade Jalebi Recipe
Jalebi are funnel-cake style fried spirals that are doused in a sweet sugar syrup for a delightful treat. This homemade jalebi recipe makes for crispy, crunchy, syrupy, juicy jalebi and is traditional method.
Moderate45 minutes mins
Kala Jamun | Black Gulab Jamun
This is an easy and delicious recipe of kala jamun made with khoya (mawa) and cottage cheese.
Difficult25 minutes mins
Mysore Pak Recipe
Mysore pak is a popular and super delicious Indian sweet from the city of Mysore in the Karnataka state in South India. Mysore pak is made with only three ingredients – gram flour, ghee and sugar.It is rich, luxurious and melt in the mouth sweet.
Moderate40 minutes mins
Cham Cham Sweet Recipe | Bengali Chum Chum Recipe
Cham cham is a popular sweet from bengal made by curdling milk. Cham is also called as chum chum. This recipe will help you in making spongy & soft cham cham since a lot of tips and suggestions are included in the recipe post.
Moderate40 minutes mins
Rasgulla Recipe | How to make Soft Rasgulla
Rasgulla is a popular Bengali sweet and is also called as rosogolla. This Bengali rasgulla recipe will guide you in making soft and spongy rasgulla.
Moderate15 minutes mins
Suji ka Halwa Recipe (Sheera Recipe)
Suji ka halwa or Sheera is a classic Indian semolina pudding made with sugar, ghee and dry fruits. The recipe I have shared is a family heirloom recipe. We have been making this suji halwa recipe for decades during family get togethers, special occasions & festivals. The sooji halwa recipe can be easily halved, doubled or tripled.
Easy20 minutes mins
Kalakand Recipe | Kalakand Sweet
This two-ingredient, super fast recipe for Kalakand (a.k.a. Indian Milk Cake) comes together in just 15 minutes thanks to the help of a can of sweetened condensed milk.
Moderate1 hour hr
Malpua Recipe (Classic Homemade Sweet)
Malpua is a traditional and popular Indian sweet of pan fried or shallow fried flour pancakes dipped in sugar syrup and served with rabdi or sweetened thickened milk. These crispy and fluffy pancakes are made with all-purpose flour, curd (yogurt), spices, khoya (dried milk solids) and topped with nuts.
Moderate1 hour hr 20 minutes mins
Rabdi Recipe | Rabri Recipe
Rabdi or rabri is a classic, traditional Indian sweet of thickened sweetened milk filled with layers of clotted cream (malai). It is also known as lachha rabdi in Hindi language.
Moderate40 minutes mins
Balushahi Recipe | Badusha Sweet
Balushahi Recipe is a popular Indian sweet having flaky, juicy and moist texture. It is a donut shaped sweet coated with sugar syrup. The Balushahi Sweet is popularly referred to as Badusha in South India.
Moderate25 minutes mins
Basundi Recipe | Basundi Sweet
Basundi is a flavored, thickened and sweetened milk made with whole milk, sugar, fragrant spices and nuts. It is a popular sweet made in the western parts of India. This basundi recipe is a quicker version made with sweetened condensed milk and comes together under 25 minutes.
Moderate50 minutes mins
Rasmalai Recipe | Rasmalai Sweet
Rasmalaiis a popular Bengali sweet ofIndian cottage cheese (chenna or paneer) balls or discs soaked in thickened, sweetened milk that has been scented with cardamom and saffron. A creamy, melt in your mouth Indian dessert sweet.
Moderate30 minutes mins
7 Cups Sweet Recipe | Easy 7 Cup Burfi | 7 Cup Cake
7 cup burfi is a easy and delicious South Indian sweet made with gram flour, ghee, fresh coconut, milk and sugar. It is also known as 7 cup cake or 7 cups sweet as it is made with 7 measures of ingredients.
Moderate15 minutes mins
Peda Recipe | Doodh Peda | Milk Peda
This rich peda recipe is a delightfully sweet fudge-like confection made with khoya (dried milk solids), sugar, nuts and fragrant spices. Make this simple and quick doodh peda recipe (milk peda) for any festival or celebrations.
Moderate1 hour hr
Shankarpali Recipe
Sweet shankarpali are crisp, flaky, melt in the mouth fried and baked biscuits. Shankarpali is a popular festive snack from Maharashtra.
Moderate50 minutes mins
Shakarpara Recipe | Khurma | Shakkarpare
Shakkarpara or Khurma is a diamond-shaped, crunchy, flaky and fried flour cookies coated with crystallized sugar. Try my authentic Punjabi recipe of this scrumptious Shakkarpare snack that you can literally munch on, any time!
Moderate40 minutes mins
Nankhatai Recipe | Nankhatai Biscuit
Nankhatai are a popular and traditional Indian shortbread cookies that are made with all-purpose flour, sugar and ghee (clarified butter) or butter and spiced with green cardamom. It is a popular snack found in most Indian bakeries. This delicious treat pairs perfectly with your evening cup of chai or tea.
Moderate50 minutes mins
Kheer Recipe | Rice Kheer
Rice Kheer is a popular Indian sweet dessert made with basmati rice, whole milk, nuts and saffron. Kheer recipe is easy and is made with a one pan or one pot method. Rice Kheer is basically Indian rice pudding and makes for a creamy delicious sweet dessert.
Easy20 minutes mins
Seviyan Kheer | Vermicelli Kheer
This creamy seviyan kheer is a North Indian sweet made with wheat vermicelli, milk, sugar, dry fruits and flavored with spices. This incredibly easy recipe of semiya kheer comes together in 20 minutes and makes for an excellent dessert or sweet.
Moderate1 hour hr 30 minutes mins
Shahi Tukda Recipe | Traditional Shahi Tukra Sweet
Shahi Tukda is a rich, royal, indulgent and popular dessert from the Mughlai Cuisine. It is made of ghee fried bread slices that are soaked in rose & cardamom scented sugar syrup that are topped with fragrant, creamy, sweetened, thickened milk (a.k.a rabdi) that is flavored with exotic saffron. It is garnished with nuts like almonds, pistachios, cashews and sometimes even edible silver leaf (varak).
Moderate55 minutes mins
Sandesh Recipe
Sandesh (called Shondesh in Bengali language) is a popular milk based sweet from Bengal. It is made with chenna or paneer, sugar or jaggery, nuts and flavorings.
Difficult1 hour hr 15 minutes mins
Gujiya Recipe (Fried and Baked)
Gujiya is a popular and traditional North Indian sweet of a crisp, flaky pastry filled with a sweet khoya (evaporated milk solids) and dry fruits stuffing. They can be fried as well as baked. Get both the fried and baked versions in this recipe.
Moderate1 hour hr 20 minutes mins
Karanji Recipe (Authentic)
Karanji is a crisp, flaky, fried, moon-shaped pastry stuffed with a sweet filling of desiccated coconut, nuts and dry fruits.It is also one of the sweet snack that is made during Diwali festival.
Difficult35 minutes mins
Boondi Laddu (Boondi ke Ladoo)
Boondi laddu is a popular Indian sweet made by combining lovely little bits of fried and sugar-soaked batter (made with gram flour) with seeds and fragrant spices. Each bite is a delightful blend of smooth, soft, and melt-in-the mouth texture.
Moderate30 minutes mins
Motichur Laddu (Motichoor ke Ladoo)
Motichur laddu are soft, delish melt in the mouth ladoo made mainly with gram flour, sugar, and spices.. One of the most popular Indian sweet.
Moderate25 minutes mins
Kesari Recipe | Perfect Rava Kesari Recipe
Rava Kesari is a popular South Indian pudding like sweet that is made with rava or suji (semolina), ghee, cashews, raisins, sugar, water and saffron. This Kesari recipe gives you a really delicious melt in the mouth sweet that can be made in less time.
Moderate40 minutes mins
Chhena Poda | Chenna Poda
Chenna poda is a popular sweet from odisha. Its made with chenna or fresh paneer. The entire dish is baked and can also be called as paneer cake.
Moderate30 minutes mins
Besan Ka Halwa
Besan halwa is a delicious sweet made from gram flour, ghee, sugar and cardamom powder.
Moderate40 minutes mins
Poornam Boorelu | Andhra Poornalu Recipe (Boorelu)
Poornam boorelu also known as Poornalu is adeep fried snack made with a stuffing of chana dal+jaggery and coated with rice+urad dal batter.
Moderate50 minutes mins
Murukku Recipe | Murukulu Recipe
Murukku is a popular South Indian crunchy and crispy snack made with rice flour and lentil flour. It is also known as murukulu, chakralu and jantikalu in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.
Ladoo Recipes
Find some well-known and some unique ladoo variations in this listing. A variety of ladoos are a part of Diwali Recipes, and this list includes ladoos made from various cereal and lentil flours, paneer, nuts and dry fruits.
Moderate15 minutes mins
Atta Laddu | Wheat Ladoo
These wheat ladoo make for a good sweet snack for kids as well as for the whole family. Easy and quick to prepare delicious ladoo made with whole wheat flour, sugar and ghee.
Moderate15 minutes mins
Coconut Ladoo Recipe | Nariyal ke Laddu Made In 3 Unique Ways
Make coconut ladoo with three recipes. The first one is a quick 3 ingredient recipe made with fresh coconut, milkmaid and cardamom powder. The second recipe has 2 ingredients – desiccated coconut and condensed milk. The third recipe is made with desiccated coconut and sugar.
Easy20 minutes mins
Easy Dry Fruits Laddu Recipe
Easy Dry fruits laddu recipe without any added sugar or fats like ghee or oil. Packed with nutrients, good fats and fibre, these energy balls are made with dates, figs and various nuts. Dry fruit laddu recipe gets done quickly and comes together under 20 minutes.
Moderate10 minutes mins
Badam Ladoo
Badam laddu are quick, easy and tasty ladoos made with almonds, jaggery and raisins.
Easy15 minutes mins
Ragi Ladoo
This is a quick, easy and tasty ragi laddu made with three ingredients – ragi, jaggery and ghee.
Moderate15 minutes mins
Peanut Laddu (Shengdana Ladoo)
Peanut Laddu is an easy 2 ingredient recipe of delicious and protein rich balls made with roasted peanuts and jaggery.
Easy15 minutes mins
Sattu Ke Laddu | Tasty Sattu Ladoo
Sattu ladoo are quick and easy ladoo variant made from roasted chana flour, jaggery and ghee.
Difficult20 minutes mins
Til Ke Laddu | Sesame Laddu
Til ke ladduis a healthy, delicious, and nutty ladoo prepared with sesame seeds, jaggery, peanuts, and desiccated coconut. A vegan recipe and also a Makar Sankranti festival special sweet.
Moderate17 minutes mins
Moong Dal Laddu
Moong Dal Laddu are nutty sweet balls made with moong lentils, ghee, sugar and flavored with green cardamoms. These Moong Dal Ladoo are quite addictive too.
Moderate17 minutes mins
Sunnundalu Recipe | Urad Dal Laddu
Sunnundalu is a special and unique Andhra festive sweet made with urad dal (black gram), ghee and sugar or jaggery. These protein rich treats are tasty and keeps well for a few days at room temperature.
Moderate12 minutes mins
Maladu Recipe | Maa Laddu | Roasted Gram Ladoo
Maladu or Maa Laddu (Pottukadalai Ladoo) is quick South Indian recipe of ladoo made from roasted gram or roasted chana dal flour. Maladu is made with just 3 main ingredients – roasted gram flour, ghee and sugar.
Easy15 minutes mins
Narkel Naru (Coconut Ladoo With Jaggery)
Narkel Naru is a traditional sweet ladoo made with jaggery and coconut from the Bengali cuisine. These rustic ladoo can be sweetened with date palm jaggery or regular sugarcane jaggery or sugar.
Moderate15 minutes mins
Aval Laddu | Poha Laddu
Aval laddu also called Poha Laddu aredelicious ladoo or sweet balls made with thick poha or aval (flattened rice or parched rice), jaggery, cashews, raisins, milk and ghee. They make for an easy festive sweet.
Kheer & Payasam Recipes
Kheer is one of the easiest Indian desserts that you can make during any festival. What is known as ‘kheer’ in North India, becomes ‘payasam’ in South India. The method of making a payasam slightly differs from that of making kheer.
Usually nuts and dry fruits are fried in ghee and added towards the end once the kheer is cooked through. I have listed both kheer and payasam variations in this section.
Kheer
Moderate50 minutes mins
Badam Kheer
Badam kheer or almond payasam is a delicious creamy kheer made with blanched almond paste, milk and saffron.
Easy30 minutes mins
Phirni Recipe | Firni
Phirni is a classic creamy slow-cooked sweet pudding made with ground rice, sugar, milk, almonds, saffron and cardamom powder. It is a popular North Indian sweet made during festive occasions.
Moderate20 minutes mins
Suji ki Kheer | Rava Payasam
Suji ki Kheer or Rava Payasam is a quick, tasty and easy to prepare pudding made with semolina, milk, nuts and flavored with green cardamom powder.
Moderate1 hour hr
Nolen Gurer Payesh
Nolen gurer payesh is rice kheer or rice pudding made with date palm jaggery.
Moderate30 minutes mins
Sheer Khurma Recipe
Sheer khurma is a rich creamy pudding made with vermicelli, milk, dates, nuts, dry fruits, sugar and ghee.'Sheer' means milk and 'khurma' refers to dates in Persian language.
Moderate35 minutes mins
Makhane ki Kheer
Makhane ki kheer is a sweet dessert pudding made with Makhana (foxnuts), milk, ghee, sugar and dry fruits. This is an easy and popular sweet that is often made during Hindu fasting days.
Moderate15 minutes mins
Oats Kheer | Oats Payasam
Oats kheer is a delicious kheer made with quick cooking oats or rolled oats, milk, ghee and dry fruits. Flavorings in this Oats Payasam include cardamom, saffron and some dry fruits.
Moderate20 minutes mins
Ragi Kheer | Ragi Pudding
Ragi Kheer is a sweet pudding made with ragi flour (finger millet flour), milk, sugar, cardamom powder, nuts and ghee. An easy recipe that comes together in 30 minutes.
Payasam
Moderate1 hour hr
Paal Payasam | Rice Payasam
Paal Payasam is a simple South Indian variant of a slow cooked rice pudding made with only 4 ingredients. This recipe is of a typical Tamil style Rice Payasam that is creamy and delicious.
Easy20 minutes mins
Semiya Payasam Recipe
Semiya payasam is a creamy, sweet vermicelli pudding from the South Indian cuisine. This cardamom scented vermicelli payasam recipe comes together in 20 minutes and can be made by beginners too.
20 minutes mins
Aval Payasam
Delicious poha kheer or payasam made with flattened rice, ghee and milk.
Moderate20 minutes mins
Paruppu Payasam
Delicious creamy moong dal payasam made with yellow moong lentils, jaggery and coconut milk.
Moderate2 hours hrs 35 minutes mins
Chana Dal Payasam | Kadalai Paruppu Payasam
Chana Dal Payasam also called Kadalai Paruppu Payasam or Kadala Parippu Payasam in South Indian languages is a delicious sweet pudding made with chana dal, coconut milk, dry fruits, jaggery and some flavorings.
Easy20 minutes mins
Semiya Payasam Recipe
Semiya payasam is a creamy, sweet vermicelli pudding from the South Indian cuisine. This cardamom scented vermicelli payasam recipe comes together in 20 minutes and can be made by beginners too.
Halwa Recipes
Halwa is another sweet dish that is often made during Diwali festival or any other Indian festive occasion. Cereals, lentils, nuts, veggies, fruits – all can be used to make halwas. Here, you will find 2 sections – one, fruit and vegetable-based halwas and two, cereal, lentil or nut-based halwas.
Fruit & Veggie Halwa
Moderate1 hour hr 10 minutes mins
Gajar Ka Halwa | Traditional Carrot Halwa Recipe
A Carrot Halwa recipe made in the traditional way and slow-cooked – with just grated carrots, whole milk, ghee, sugar and some nuts. You will love this evergreen and popular Gajar ka Halwa recipe. Make this rich sweet for special occasions or during festivals.
Moderate1 hour hr 15 minutes mins
Beetroot Halwa
Beetroot Halwa is a tasty Indian sweet made by slow-cooking grated beetroots with milk, sugar, cardamom, dry fruits and nuts.
Moderate45 minutes mins
Apple Halwa
Apple halwa recipe made with apples, sugar, cinnamon and vanilla. Apple halwa is a delicioushalwa that is easy to make. This apple halwa does not use sooji (rava), milk, khoya or milk powder. Just apples, sugar (optional) and ghee. Flavorings and nuts of your choice can be added to the halwa.
Moderate50 minutes mins
Papaya Halwa (Papaya Sweet)
Papaya Halwa is a Indian sweet or dessert made with papaya. This Papaya Sweet is prepared by slow-cooking semi-ripe papaya, sugar and almond powder in oil. With hints of lovely cardamom, it makes for tasty dessert to end your meals with.
Moderate40 minutes mins
Kashi Halwa | Dumroot Halwa | Ash Gourd Halwa
Kashi Halwa also called Dumroot Halwa is a unique, tasty and rich halwa made from ash gourd or white pumpkin, sugar, nuts, ghee, raisins and flavored with saffron.
Moderate40 minutes mins
Sweet Potato Halwa (Shakarkandi ka Halwa)
Sweet Potato Halwa also called Shakarkandi ka Halwa in Hindi is a delicious Indian sweet made with boiled and mashed sweet potatoes and scented with cardamom, saffron.
Moderate15 minutes mins
Pineapple Kesari | Pineapple Halwa | Pineapple Sheera
Pineapple Kesari also known as Pineapple Sheera or Pineapple Halwa is adelicious, melt in the mouth sweet made with rava or suji (semolina or cream of wheat), fresh pineapple, sugar, ghee and nuts.
Cereal, Lentils & Nuts Halwa
Moderate1 hour hr 5 minutes mins
Badam Halwa Recipe | Rich South Indian Almond Halwa
Badam ka halwa is a rich, luxuruous and popular South Indian style delicious halwa made with blanched almonds, ghee and sugar. This recipe gives you one of best almond halwa that you can make.
Moderate20 minutes mins
Banana Halwa | Banana Sheera
Banana Halwa or Banana Sheera is delish sweet pudding made with semolina or cream of wheat, bananas, sugar, dry fruits and is often made as a prasad for Ganesh Puja, Satyanarayan Puja, Devi Puja or for any auspicious occasion.
30 minutes mins
Rava Kesari With Milk
This Milk Rava Kesari is an easy to prepare delicious kesari variety made with milk, semolina (rava), sugar and dry fruits.
Moderate7 hours hrs 10 minutes mins
Moong Dal Halwa
Moong Dal Halwa is an addictive and delicious halwa variant made with mung lentils, milk, sugar and nuts. It is popular in Rajasthan and some North Indian states. This sweet is rich, heavy and usually served during festivities and celebrations.
Moderate20 minutes mins
Kesari Bath Recipe | How To Make Kesari Bath
Kesari Bath is a rich sweet made with rava (cream of wheat), sugar, nuts, saffron, water and ghee. This popular sweet from the Karnataka cuisine is quick and easy to prepare. It has rava (also called sooji or suji in Hindi and semolina or cream of wheat in English) as its main ingredient.
25 minutes mins
Fruit Kesari
Fruit kesari is a rich South Indian sweet made with cream of wheat, mixed fruits and dry fruits.
Moderate20 minutes mins
Ragi Halwa
Ragi halwa is a sweet dessert made from ragi flour, ghee, sugar and milk.
20 minutes mins
Karachi Halwa
Karachi halwa is made with basically 4 ingredients – corn flour, ghee, water and sugar. Its soft, melt in the mouth and taste good.
Moderate30 minutes mins
Bread Halwa
Bread halwa is a variation of halwa made with bread slices. To make bread ka halwa, bread cubes are first fried or roasted in ghee and later cooked in milk.
30 minutes mins
Kada Prashad Recipe
Kada prashad is a super delicious halwa that is served in gurudwaras as prasad.
Moderate30 minutes mins
Double Ka Meetha
Double ka meetha recipe. This is an easy and delicious recipe of Hyderabadi style double ka meetha made with sweetened condensed milk.
Barfi Recipes
There are so many varieties of barfi in Indian cuisine. Below listed are some barfi recipes that I have on my blog.
Moderate20 minutes mins
Barfi Recipe | Khoya Barfi
This easy, delicious Indian sweet is a quick Barfi Recipe. This Mawa Barfi is made with khoya/mawa (evaporated milk solids), sugar, nuts and some flavorings. It comes together in 20 minutes, right from the preparation to the cooking.
Moderate1 hour hr 25 minutes mins
Coconut Burfi | Nariyal ki Barfi
This Coconut Burfi is a delish, melt in the mouth fudge made with sweetened condensed milk, milk, and desiccated coconut.
Moderate25 minutes mins
Dry Fruit Barfi | Date Rolls | Dry Fruit Halwa
Sweet, chewy, and irresistible, this Dry Fruit Burfi (also referred to as Dry Fruit Halwa or Date Rolls) is a simple, quick and easy sweet you can make during Diwali or any festive season. My simple vegan recipe for Dry Fruit Barfi is made without any added sugar, making it a totally guilt-free treat!
Moderate30 minutes mins
Besan ki Barfi
Besan ki barfi is a traditional Indian sweet of a rich and decadent barfi made with gram flour, sugar and ghee.
Moderate35 minutes mins
Gajar Ki Barfi | Carrot Burfi
Easy, quick and tasty recipe of carrot burfi made with carrots, milk powder, ghee sugar and cardamom powder.
Homemade Sweet Snacks
Listed below are snacks or savories, which are sweet. These can be prepared in advance or a couple of days before and refrigerated. The fried sweet snacks obviously have a longer shelf life.
Moderate2 hours hrs
Puran Poli Recipe
Puran Poli is a sweet flatbread stuffed with a sweet lentil filling made from hulled and spilt bengal gram/chana dal, jaggery and ground spices. This traditional recipe is from the Maharashtrian cuisine.
Moderate1 hour hr 30 minutes mins
Bobbatlu Recipe | Obbattu Recipe | Holige Recipe
Bobbatlu also called Holige or Obbattu is a South Indian festive treat of sweetened flat breads. These flat breads are stuffed with cooked and finely ground mixture of chana dal, jaggery, cardamom powder and ground nutmeg. This Bobbatlu Recipe makes for one of the best Bobbatlu made with a sweet chana dal stuffing.
Moderate25 minutes mins
Meethi Seviyan | Sweet Vermicelli | Dry Seviyan
Meethi seviyanis a sweet dessert made from whole wheat vermicelli, ghee, milk, sugar and dry fruits.
Moderate50 minutes mins
Sweet Appam | Banana Appam
Sweet appam recipe made with ripe bananas, rice flour and jaggery. Also known as the Banana Appam or Banana Paniyaram these are an easy to make South Indian sweet snack.
Moderate3 hours hrs 50 minutes mins
Unniyappam Recipe | Unni Appam
Unniyappam are sweet fritters from the Kerala cuisine and are made with rice, banana, a few spices and coconut.
35 minutes mins
Wheat Appam
These are instant appams made with whole wheat flour, jaggery and bananas.
Moderate4 hours hrs 40 minutes mins
Mangalore Buns
Mangalore buns are sweet fried puffed bread made with mashed bananas, flour, sugar and spiced with a touch of ground cumin. These sweet banana buns or poori as they are known is a specialty dish from the Mangalore region in Karnataka.
Cakes & Desserts Recipes
During Diwali, many people gift chocolate or chocolate-based sweets, desserts, cakes or pastries to friends or relatives. Thus, I have shared some eggless, chocolate-based desserts and frozen desserts from world cuisine in this section.
Easy45 minutes mins
Moist Eggless Chocolate Cake Recipe
This easy (one-bowl!) Eggless Chocolate Cake is a simple vegan recipe you're sure to come back to time and again. Unbelievably soft and light, you won't believe that this decadent, chocolatey sponge cake is actually made with healthy whole wheat flour.
Moderate50 minutes mins
Eggless Black Forest Cake Recipe (Whole Wheat)
This easy recipe for Eggless Black Forest Cake is not only delicious, it is also made a little healthier by using whole wheat flour. Don’t worry though, this beautiful chocolate layer cake still boasts a fabulous taste and texture that’ll have your guests coming back for more.
Easy20 minutes mins
Biscuit Cake | Chocolate Biscuit Cake (No Bake Recipe)
An easy recipe for no bake biscuit cake is perfect to make as a tasty and indulgent dessert. This chocolate biscuit cake features your favorite biscuits (cookies) soaked in coffee and layered with a homemade chocolate sauce
Moderate45 minutes mins
Lava Cake | Eggless Chocolate Lava Cake
This is a simple and easy recipe of molten lava cake or chocolate lava cake made without eggs.
Easy50 minutes mins
Eggless Vanilla Cake Recipe (Soft and Moist)
This easy Eggless Vanilla Cake recipe makes a perfectly moist and flavorful sponge every time. It's delicious to enjoy with a homemade strawberry glaze, or use as a base for cream cakes and gateau.
Moderate1 hour hr
Cooker Cake | Eggless Pressure Cooker Cake
Eggless sponge cake recipe made in cooker with step by step photos. Spongy and a soft, light textured delicious egg free sponge cake recipe made in a pressure cooker.
Easy50 minutes mins
Wheat Cake Recipe
This easy wheat cake recipe is eggless and made with deliciously hearty whole wheat flour. It is simple to make with only a handful of ingredients and is great for enjoying plain or with any sweet spread or frosting.
Moderate1 hour hr 5 minutes mins
Mawa Cake (Eggless Mawa Cake)
This eggless mawa cake is a cardamom-spiced eggless buttery cake with a caramelized milky flavor. Made with mawa or khoya, whole wheat flour and butter.
Easy1 hour hr
Pound Cake
This is an easy eggless pound cake made with whole wheat flour, sweetened condensed milk, unsalted butter, milk and sugar. Serve as a sweet snack or dessert.
Moderate40 minutes mins
Easy Banana Cake Recipe (Eggless, Vegan & Whole Wheat)
Banana Cake is a delicious, one-bowl vegan recipe made from mashed ripe bananas and whole wheat flour. Tasty and healthier than traditional cakes, this quick and easy eggless banana cake recipe is refreshingly light, pillowy soft and incredibly moist.
Easy55 minutes mins
Orange Cake (Eggless, Vegan & with Whole Wheat flour)
A soft, sweet and light orange cake made with fresh orange juice and whole wheat flour. This eggless orange cake recipe is easy to follow and a bit healthy, suitable for both vegetarians and vegans alike.
Moderate1 hour hr 30 minutes mins
Eggless Pineapple Cake | Pineapple Pastry Recipe
Pineapple Pastry is a delightful dessert bursting with sweet, tart, and tangy flavors. Fluffy and tender cake is layered with a creamy whipped frosting, and the bright taste of pineapple is in every bite.
Moderate1 hour hr
Date Cake | Date and Walnut Cake
This Date Cake is a moist, light, soft, delightful cake made with dates, walnuts, coffee, almond milk, sugar and whole wheat flour. A slightly healthier Date and Walnut cake that can be served as dessert or a sweet snack.
Easy1 hour hr
Chocolate Zucchini Bread (Eggless, Vegan, Whole Wheat)
A Chocolate Zucchini Bread that is moist, soft with a tender crumb and made with whole wheat flour. This is an easy eggless & vegan zucchini bread made with your regular pantry staple ingredients.
Easy35 minutes mins
Eggless Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe
Buttery, crisp and crunchy Eggless Chocolate Chip Cookies made from whole wheat flour.
Easy30 minutes mins
Eggless Chocolate Chip Muffins Recipe
This eggless chocolate chip muffins recipe is easy to prepare, and perfect for a sweet treat or weekend breakfast. Made with whole wheat flour, these healthy chocolate chip muffins are made in just one bowl and are ready in 30 minutes or less.
Moderate40 minutes mins
Eggless Brownies Recipe | Chocolate Brownie
An easy Eggless Brownies Recipe made with cocoa powder, whole wheat flour (or add atta that is used for making roti or chapati), sugar, baking powder and oil. So, the recipe is also a bit healthier and is vegan too.
Moderate1 hour hr
Creamy Cheesecake Recipe | New York Cheesecake Recipe
Creamy, tasty and soft New York Style Cheesecake. ThisCheesecake recipe is made without eggs and is a baked cheesecake. I also share a recipe of homemade chocolate sauce that complements the slightly tangy taste of the cheesecake very well.
Moderate15 minutes mins
Panna Cotta Recipe | How to make Panna Cotta
Panna Cotta is an Italian dessert made with milk and cream. This easy and delicious panna cotta recipe is made without gelatin and thus a vegetarian version of panna cotta. To set the dessert agar agar is used instead of gelatin.
Easy15 minutes mins
Chocolate Fudge Recipe (3 Ingredients)
This chocolate fudge is a quick, no-bake recipe made with just 3 ingredients – chocolate, sweetened condensed milk and butter.
Easy10 minutes mins
Chocolate Chip Ice Cream
This easy Chocolate Chip Ice Cream is smooth, rich and creamy, and also does not require an ice cream maker.
Easy15 minutes mins
Chocolate Pudding
A homemade Chocolate pudding that is deliciously quick to make with only 4 ingredients. This easy eggless chocolate pudding comes together in 15 minutes and with a few hours to set it.
Moderate35 minutes mins
Kulfi Recipe (Kulfi Ice Cream)
Denser and creamier than ice cream, Kulfi is a traditional Indian sweet that comes in myriad exotic flavors. This simple kulfi recipe is made with khoya, and only takes a few minutes to put together.
Easy15 minutes mins
Ice Cream Recipe – No Churn, No Ice Cream Maker
This homemade ice cream recipe is an easy and quick version of delicious ice cream made with only 3 ingredients. No cook, no churn and no ice cream maker required. This ice cream recipe yields a creamy, smooth and soft homemade ice cream without any ice crystals.
Easy10 minutes mins
Chocolate Ice Cream Recipe
This is an easy and simple recipe for a creamy, smooth homemade Chocolate Ice Cream that is made with cocoa powder, milk, brown sugar, sweetened condensed milk and whipping cream . The recipe also does not need any ice cream maker.
Easy30 minutes mins
Fruit Custard
Fresh fruit and a creamy vanilla custard sauce combine forces in this simple Fruit Custardrecipe. Fruit custard is a popular Indian dessert.
Easy30 minutes mins
Trifle Recipe | Trifle Pudding | Fruit Trifle
This easy and delicious homemade trifle recipe made with sponge cake, mixed fruits, custard and whipped cream is the perfect dessert to brighten up your dinner table.
Easy30 minutes mins
Instant Pot Rice Pudding Recipe
Creamy, cozy, and super comforting, this recipe for old-fashioned Rice Pudding is made in a jiffy using the Instant Pot. With fewer than 10 ingredients and just 5 minutes of prep time, you can have this deliciously rich and naturally gluten-free dessert.
Moderate45 minutes mins
Tiramisu Recipe (Without Eggs)
My simple recipe for tiramisu is made without eggs or alcohol, making it a dessert that the whole family can enjoy. Creamy vanilla flavored mascarpone is layered with espresso-syrup soaked sponge cake for a delightfully energizing sweet that is simply perfect.
This collection of Diwali Sweets Recipes from the archives was first published in October 2013. It has been updated and republished on November 2023.
